One cannot benefit from his own zakāt funds directly or indirectly. Hence, one cannot use his zakāt funds for himself nor can he give zakāt to that person for whom he is responsible for financially.[ii] Thus, a son cannot give zakāt to his mother. It will not be permissible to utilise your zakāt funds to pay off your mother’s loan.[iii] However, this does not mean other people cannot assist the mother in her loan with their zakāt if she is a deserving recipient.